Mini Medical School: Hot Topics in Medical Science

Offered By: University of Colorado System via FutureLearn

Course Description

Overview

Find out more about real-world developments in medical science

Explore the latest research on important medical issues in this dynamic four-week course. By the end, you’ll be able to separate fact from fiction and get all the answers you need when you visit a medical practice.

Gain insight into health science

The course follows Introduction to Medical Science, which explains the basics of modern medicine. In this course, those building blocks are used as foundational knowledge as you learn about real-world developments.

This translational research (theory-to-practice) approach is applied to immunology, infectious diseases, neuroscience, and cancer. You’ll get more comfortable with the way health science diagnoses prevents and treats illnesses, making connections between modern medicine theory and application.

Be empowered by modern medicine

With anti-science disinformation spreading more widely all the time, it has become crucial to understand health science. When you visit a medical practice, you need to be able to follow explanations and ask questions to ensure you understand what you’re being told.

That’s exactly what you’ll learn on this course, allowing you to be your own healthcare advocate. During this time of conflicting information on COVID-19, a clear grasp of translational research is arguably more important than ever.

Learn from the best in medical science

On this course, you’ll be taught by Dr JJ Cohen, lead educator and immunologist and founder of the Mini Medical School himself. Dr Cohen has won multiple awards and holds honorary degrees from the Universities of Sherbrooke and McGill.

As well as benefiting from Dr Cohen’s unique approach, you’ll enjoy exceptional course production from Helen MacFarlane. They have collaborated for years, and their experience ensures excellent learning experiences.

This course is designed for anyone who has specific health concerns, wants to communicate better with medical practitioners, or is considering a career in health care.

It will be most beneficial if you have already taken the Introduction to Medical Science course.

Syllabus

Immunology

Welcome to Mini Medical School: Hot Topics in Medicine
Introduction & Innate Immunity
Inflammation
Antibodies
T cells
Immunization
Immunopathology
Old Friends
Transplantation
End of Week 1

Infectious Disease

Infectious disease introduction
Bacterial Disease
Antibiotics and the Microbiome
Malaria
Tuberculosis
Herpes and its relatives
HIV/AIDS
Emerging infectious diseases
Influenza
COVID-19
End of Week 2

Neuroscience

Memory
Learning
Depression
Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia
Autism spectrum disorder
Autism and brain development
Dementia—Alzheimer
Stroke
End of Week 3

Cancer Biology

What is Cancer?
Diagnosis
Statistics
Mutations
Cancer Grades and Stages
Treatment 1
Treatment 2
Cancer Prevention
End of Week 4

Taught by

John COHEN